RESTATEMENT (Restatement - Statement of Income) (Details) (USD $) Share data in Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended	9 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012 As Previously Reported [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 As Previously Reported [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 As Previously Reported [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 As Previously Reported [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 As Previously Reported [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Restatement Adjustments - RSO [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Restatement Adjustments - RSO [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Restatement Adjustment - Intercompany Elimination [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Restatement Adjustment - Intercompany Elimination [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Consolidated Entity Excluding RSO [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Consolidated Entity Excluding RSO [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Consolidated Entity Excluding RSO [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Consolidated Entity Excluding RSO [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Consolidated Entity Excluding RSO [Member] As Previously Reported [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Consolidated Entity Excluding RSO [Member] As Previously Reported [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Consolidated Entity Excluding RSO [Member] As Previously Reported [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Consolidated Entity Excluding RSO [Member] As Previously Reported [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Consolidated Entity Excluding RSO [Member] Restatement Adjustments - RSO [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Consolidated Entity Excluding RSO [Member] Restatement Adjustment - Intercompany Elimination [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Consolidated Entity Excluding RSO [Member] Restatement Adjustment - Intercompany Elimination [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 VIE - RSO [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 VIE - RSO [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 VIE - RSO [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 VIE - RSO [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 VIE - RSO [Member] As Previously Reported [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 VIE - RSO [Member] As Previously Reported [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 VIE - RSO [Member] As Previously Reported [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 VIE - RSO [Member] As Previously Reported [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 VIE - RSO [Member] Restatement Adjustments - RSO [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 VIE - RSO [Member] Restatement Adjustments - RSO [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 VIE - RSO [Member] Restatement Adjustment - Intercompany Elimination [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 VIE - RSO [Member] Restatement Adjustment - Intercompany Elimination [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Intersegment Eliminations [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Intersegment Eliminations [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Intersegment Eliminations [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Intersegment Eliminations [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Intersegment Eliminations [Member] As Previously Reported [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Intersegment Eliminations [Member] As Previously Reported [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Intersegment Eliminations [Member] As Previously Reported [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Intersegment Eliminations [Member] As Previously Reported [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Intersegment Eliminations [Member] Restatement Adjustments - RSO [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Intersegment Eliminations [Member] Restatement Adjustments - RSO [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Intersegment Eliminations [Member] Restatement Adjustment - Intercompany Elimination [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Intersegment Eliminations [Member] Restatement Adjustment - Intercompany Elimination [Member]
REVENUES:
Real estate														$ 15,950,000	$ 11,292,000	$ 39,443,000	$ 31,929,000	$ 11,292,000	$ 8,666,000	$ 31,929,000	$ 40,595,000				$ 4,701,000	$ 2,446,000	$ 9,794,000	$ 9,169,000
Financial fund management														8,502,000	6,083,000	15,234,000	15,378,000	6,083,000	6,579,000	15,378,000	21,957,000				450,000	2,508,000	720,000	4,902,000
Commercial finance														(30,000)	(167,000)	(243,000)	(1,535,000)	(167,000)	3,419,000	(1,535,000)	1,884,000
Revenues from consolidated VIE - RSO	43,025,000	47,889,000	119,837,000	123,696,000	17,208,000	18,664,000	45,772,000		64,436,000	35,669,000	90,657,000	(4,988,000)	(12,733,000)	24,422,000	17,208,000	54,434,000	45,772,000								23,786,000	35,669,000	76,011,000	90,657,000	0	0	0	0	35,669,000	90,657,000	0		(5,183,000)	(4,988,000)	(10,608,000)	(12,733,000)	0	0	0	0	0	0	(4,988,000)	(12,733,000)
COSTS AND EXPENSES:
Real estate														11,178,000	7,684,000	29,514,000	22,477,000	7,684,000	7,192,000	22,477,000	29,669,000
Financial fund management														3,547,000	3,909,000	7,769,000	11,282,000	3,909,000	5,804,000	11,282,000	17,086,000
Commercial finance														75,000	103,000	(99,000)	451,000	103,000	1,963,000	451,000	2,414,000
Restructuring expenses				365,000										0	0	0	365,000		0	365,000	365,000
General and administrative	2,505,000	2,530,000	6,807,000	7,564,000										2,505,000	2,530,000	6,807,000	7,564,000	2,530,000	2,896,000	7,564,000	10,460,000
Gain on sale of leases and loans							0										0		(37,000)	0	(37,000)
Impairment charges		2,280,000		2,280,000			2,280,000							0	2,280,000	0	2,280,000	2,280,000	0	2,280,000	2,280,000
Provision for credit losses	1,808,000	6,336,000	3,793,000	14,996,000			14,996,000							1,808,000	6,336,000	3,793,000	14,996,000	6,336,000	2,250,000	14,996,000	17,246,000
Depreciation and amortization	413,000	529,000	1,318,000	1,592,000										413,000	529,000	1,318,000	1,592,000	529,000	2,061,000	1,592,000	3,653,000
Operating Expenses																									15,554,000	13,230,000	43,110,000	39,752,000					13,230,000	39,752,000		0
Costs and expenses	30,219,000	31,651,000	82,034,000	88,170,000	23,371,000	22,129,000	61,007,000		83,136,000	13,230,000	39,752,000	(4,950,000)	(12,589,000)	19,526,000	23,371,000	49,102,000	61,007,000																				(4,861,000)	(4,950,000)	(10,178,000)	(12,589,000)						0	(4,950,000)	(12,589,000)
OPERATING INCOME	12,806,000	16,238,000	37,803,000	35,526,000	(6,163,000)	(3,465,000)	(15,235,000)		(18,700,000)	22,439,000	50,905,000	(38,000)	(144,000)
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE):
(Loss) gain on deconsolidation and sale of subsidiaries		(140,000)		54,542,000			54,542,000							0	(140,000)	0	54,542,000	(140,000)	8,749,000	54,542,000	63,291,000		0
Gain (loss) on the extinguishment of debt							0										0		(2,190,000)	0	(2,190,000)
Other-than-temporary impairment on investments			(214,000)	(74,000)			(74,000)							0	0	(214,000)	(74,000)		0	(74,000)	(74,000)
Gain on sale of investment securities, net																	0		58,000	5,000	63,000	0		(5,000)
Interest expense	(530,000)	(544,000)	(1,525,000)	(1,767,000)										(530,000)	(544,000)	(1,525,000)	(1,767,000)	(544,000)	(2,974,000)	(1,767,000)	(4,741,000)		0
Other income, net	16,897,000	63,000	17,231,000	5,571,000										128,000	29,000	400,000	6,000	557,000	559,000	1,544,000	2,103,000	0	(528,000)	(1,538,000)
Other income (expense), net	16,367,000	(621,000)	15,492,000	58,272,000	(127,000)	4,202,000	54,250,000		58,452,000	0	5,464,000	(494,000)	(1,442,000)	(402,000)	(655,000)	(1,339,000)	52,707,000								16,607,000	0	16,607,000	5,464,000						5,464,000		0	162,000	34,000	224,000	101,000						0	34,000	101,000
Income from continuing operations before taxes	29,173,000	15,617,000	53,295,000	93,798,000	(6,290,000)	737,000	39,015,000		39,752,000	22,439,000	56,369,000	(532,000)	(1,586,000)
Income tax provision (benefit)		(5,000)	(396,000)	20,336,000	(3,984,000)	154,000	13,358,000		13,512,000	3,979,000	6,978,000	0	0	1,261,000	(3,984,000)	(396,000)	13,358,000								722,000	3,979,000	4,221,000	6,978,000
Income from continuing operations	27,190,000	15,622,000	49,470,000	73,462,000	(2,306,000)	583,000	25,657,000		26,240,000	18,460,000	49,391,000	(532,000)	(1,586,000)
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax	0	(8,000)	(2,000)	(38,000)	(8,000)	(20,000)	(38,000)		(58,000)	0	0	0	0			(2,000)	(38,000)			(38,000)
Net income	27,190,000	15,614,000	49,468,000	73,424,000	(2,314,000)	563,000	25,619,000	28,496,000	26,182,000	18,460,000	49,391,000	(532,000)	(1,586,000)			49,468,000	73,424,000			25,619,000				(1,586,000)										49,391,000
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests														(40,000)	36,000	(23,000)	30,000	36,000	(378,000)	30,000	(348,000)		0		(23,708,000)	(17,917,000)	(44,394,000)	(47,892,000)					(17,917,000)	(47,892,000)	0	0
Net income (loss) attributable to common shareholders	3,442,000	(2,267,000)	5,051,000	25,562,000	(2,278,000)	185,000	25,649,000		25,834,000	543,000	1,499,000	(532,000)	(1,586,000)
Amounts attributable to common shareholders:
Income (loss) from continuing operations	3,442,000	(2,259,000)	5,053,000	25,600,000	(2,270,000)	205,000	25,687,000		25,892,000	543,000	1,499,000	(532,000)	(1,586,000)
Discontinued operations	0	(8,000)	(2,000)	(38,000)	(8,000)	(20,000)	(38,000)		(58,000)	0	0	0	0
Net income (loss) attributable to common shareholders	$ 3,442,000	$ (2,267,000)	$ 5,051,000	$ 25,562,000	$ (2,278,000)	$ 185,000	$ 25,649,000		$ 25,834,000	$ 543,000	$ 1,499,000	$ (532,000)	$ (1,586,000)
Basic earnings per share:
Continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0.17	$ (0.11)	$ 0.25	$ 1.29		$ 0.01	$ 1.30		$ 1.31
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0.00	$ 0.00	$ 0.00	$ 0.00		$ 0.00	$ 0.00		$ 0.00
Net income (loss) (in dollars per share)	$ 0.17	$ (0.11)	$ 0.25	$ 1.29		$ 0.01	$ 1.30		$ 1.31
Weighted average shares outstanding	20,342	20,102	20,255	19,786		19,641	19,786		19,740
Diluted earnings per share:
Continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0.16	$ (0.11)	$ 0.23	$ 1.23		$ 0.01	$ 1.23		$ 1.25
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0.00	$ 0.00	$ 0.00	$ 0.00		$ 0.00	$ 0.00		$ 0.00
Net income (loss) (in dollars per share)	$ 0.16	$ (0.11)	$ 0.23	$ 1.23		$ 0.01	$ 1.23		$ 1.25
Weighted average shares outstanding	21,872	20,102	21,931	20,845		20,039	20,845		20,634